Mangalore: Knowledge of national issues can help police deal with local problems - IGP

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Feb 19: "The state police should also be aware of national and international issues and not just local ones, as such issues can have impact even at the local level," said IGP (western range) Pratap Reddy.

He addressed the gathering after inaugurating a workshop on national security at the office of commissioner of police here on Tuesday February 19.

The workshop was organized by Institute of Contemporary Studies, Bangalore.

Giving example on national issues having impact at local level, Pratap Reddy said the issue of North-East exodus also had its impact in the city. "Knowledge on such issues will help in dealing with the problem better," he said.

"Western range is a hub of activities as far as national security is concerned. Compared to the arm forces local police do not have a definite enemy, they deal with deviant persons in society. Whenever we cross the line, we face uproar from the society itself," he said.

"The total number of policemen who lost their lives is more when compared to the defense forces, but we do not get recognition like the army," he lamented.

'High ISI threat to Karnataka'

The inauguration of the workshop was followed by a talk by Prof Bidanda Chengappa from international relations, Christ University.

He said the deterioration of security started in Karnataka in the year 2000. "ISI threat is high in Karnataka because the state has the second largest population of Muslims in the country. There are 35,000 Tibetian refugees and the Chinese government is always trying to bring rift in the community. The ISI interest in the state is very strong. Hence the police should also be aware of external issues." he said.

"The ISI agents enter India after taking Karachi-Dhaka or Islamabad-Dhaka flight and then they cross the 4000 km Indo-Bangla border. Once they enter the Indian territory, they are free as they can go to any part of the state," said the professor.

"The broad objective of ISI in targeting Bangalore is, it is not only known as an IT capital but also known for aeronautic, machine tools, defence science, biotechnology, public sector and others which no state can match. Their main aim in targeting is to destabilize the economy and to create communal differences, he added.